A curriculum guide is provided for the kindergarten program in the public schools of Prince George's County, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The sections of the guide, which follow a brief introduction and glossary, focus on (1) characteristics of the kindergarten child; (2) classroom organization; (3) early identification and intervention programs; (4)…

This document addresses issues related to the problem that many U.S. citizens do not have literacy skills adequate to meet their needs and ambitions. The first section of the paper provides an overview of the problem, discussing how to define literacy, how it has been measured, some estimates of how many people are illiterate, who they are and…

A study evaluated the IBM Principles of Adult Literacy (PALS) program in 1988-89. Three adult education centers in Georgia (two with PALS and one without) were studied to determine whether, for adult nonreaders, the PALS program produced gains in reading equal to or greater than those produced by a traditional noncomputerized program. In addition…

Adult literacy programs need reliable information about program quality and effectiveness for accountability, improvement of practice, and expansion of knowledge. Evaluation and assessment reflect fundamental beliefs about adult learners, concepts of literacy, and educational settings. Resources for planning program evaluations include surveys,…

This color-coded guide/catalog was prepared as a resource for adult educators through a Montana project that evaluated computer software for teaching basic skills to adults. The guide is divided into three parts. Part I consists of the results of the assessment and evaluation of 119 pieces of software currently being used at 16 adult basic…

The results of an interim evaluation of the Prefreshman Summer Basic Skills Program at the City University of New York are presented. The program provided instruction to prefreshmen needing remediation in one or more of the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics. In an effort the provide effective remedial instruction and to facilitate…

A report of the results of the City University of New York's 1987 Prefreshman Summer Program is presented. The 6-week summer program offers instruction to prefreshmen in one or more of the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics. Small-group instruction, peer tutoring, and counseling are available. Statistics indicate the following: for…

These instructional materials are companions to the British Broadcasting Company's television series called "Stepping Up" and "Step Up to Wordpower," first broadcast in October and November 1989, respectively. They are intended to help adults prepare for the British certificate of qualification in communication skills. An…

A study sought to identify the cognitive strategies or techniques that expert middle school teachers use to help mainstreamed students learn from content area texts. Twenty middle school social studies and science teachers who had been identified as teachers who worked well with mainstreamed students were interviewed concerning what they thought…

This guide was developed to provide adult education teachers in Arkansas with a listing of competencies correlated with appropriate materials at each level. The guide helps teachers select materials to individualize student instructional plans. It provides a variety of alternatives such as books, workbooks, software, video, and suggested reading…

A study examined low-socioeconomic status (SES) urban children's ways of interpreting traditional skills-based literacy instruction in kindergarten and first grade. Subjects, 35 randomly selected children from three inner-city schools, were tested for entering and end-of-first-grade knowledge of six domains of written language. Subjects' scores on…

In response to decreasing nursing program enrollments, less qualified enrollees, and decreasing scores on the national licensing board exams, a study was conducted at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) to examine factors that might contribute to success or failure among students entering the nursing program. In order to identify "high risk"…

West Virginia Northern Community College provided workplace literacy education and training for employees of Weirton Steel Corporation and Union Carbide Corporation. For Weirton Steel the training included 4,040 hours of instruction in fundamental literacy skills (reading, writing, speaking, and math), oral and written communications (including…

A study examined the effects of a "pen pal" letter writing exchange on undergraduate college students and second grade children. Subjects, 23 second graders, completed a letter writing attitude survey, and then (after receiving an explanation of what a pen pal is) exchanged letters with the undergraduates over a l5-week period. Results…

Defining speed listening as a technique allowing the listener to consciously determine the appropriate presentation rate for prerecorded materials consistent with personal objectives rather than with those of the original speaker, this paper reviews studies that support the use of speed reading in instructional settings. The paper examines…